Monday, November 14, 2016

Saint Dyfrig, Archbishop of Caerleon, Wales

Saint Dubricius (also known as
Dubritius, Dubric, Dyfig, Dyfrig, Devereux) was born at Moccas (Moch Rhos =
Pig's Heath), near Hereford and died in 545 AD.
Some old genealogies show Dyfrig as the great-great-grandson of Macsen
Wledig and Elen of the Ways.

Saint Dyfrig was a significant
church leader, a monk, in southeast Wales and western Herefordshire. His
earliest foundation was Ariconium (Archenfield, Hereford), but his most
important centres were at Hentland (Henllan) and Moccas in the Wye valley.
Dyfrig attracted numerous disciples to the two monasteries, and from them
founded many other monasteries and churches.

He was associated with Saint
Illtyd (f.d. November 6) and, according to the 7th-century "vita" of
Saint Samson, with the island of Caldey for whose monastery he appointed Saint
Samson abbot. Later he consecrated Samson bishop. An ancient, but incomplete,
inscription at Caldey reads "Magl Dubr" ("the tonsured servant
of Dubricius"). Dyfrig and Saint Deinol were the two prelates who
convinced Saint David to attend the synod of Brefi. Dyfrig spent the last years
of his life at Ynys Enlli (Bardsey) and died there.

In later medieval legends he
becomes the 'archbishop of Caerleon' (Caerlon-on-Usk) and, according to
Geoffrey of Monmouth, crowns 'King' Arthur at Colchester (he is the high saint
of "Idylls of a King"), and the ecclesiastical politics of the 12th
century claimed him as founder of the Normans' see of Llandaff, where he was
one of the four titular saints of the cathedral. The later "vita" written by
Benedict of Gloucester claims that Dyfrig was a disciple of Saint Germanus of
Auxerre, but this is unlikely. Legend also states that Saint David resigned in
his favour as metropolitan of Wales.

The relics of Saint Dyfrig were
translated from Bardsey to Llandaff in 1120. He is the 'Dubric the high saint,
Chief of the church in Britain' of Tennyson's "Coming of Arthur," and
the place-name Saint Devereux in Herefordshire is a corruption of the saint's
name.

Church dedications to him at
Gwenddwr (Powys) and Porlock (Somerset) suggest that his disciples were active
in the expansion of Christianity to the west and southwest, possibly in
association with the multitudinous children Saint Brychan of Brecknock
(Attwater, Benedictines, Doble, Delaney, Farmer). In art Saint Dubricius is
depicted holding two crosiers and an archiepiscopal cross. He is venerated in
Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, and Caldey Island (Roeder). St Dyfrig’s feast day
is on the 14th November.

About Me

I have studied Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Theology, International Relations at the University of London (Queen Mary). My Master's Thesis was published as a book: 'The Aegean Sea Dispute Between Greece and Turkey - The Consequences for NATO and the EU'. For more information see: http://www.akakia.net/el/the-aegean-sea-dispute-between-greece-and-turkey
I have also studied Byzantine Music in Athens and I am currently undertaking a research on the “Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius and its contribution towards Anglican – Orthodox Relations”, at the University of Winchester.
I also represent the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain at the A.E.C.A. If you wish to contact me you can email me: demetrifs1@yahoo.com